[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44324-44325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15212]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-019N]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Voluntary 
Recalls of Meat and Poultry Products)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request a new information collection regarding the voluntary recalls 
from commerce of meat and poultry products.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before October 3, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection request. Comments may be submitted by mail, 
including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand-or courier-delivered 
items. Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton 
Annex, Washington, DC 20250. All submissions received must include the 
Agency name and docket number 05-019N.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice, as well as 
research and background information used by FSIS in developing this 
document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket 
Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The comments also will 
be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2005_Notices_Index/index.asp.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction 
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th 
Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry Products.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, 
wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a new information collection addressing 
paperwork requirements regarding the Agency's voluntary recalls from 
commerce of meat and poultry products. Although FSIS is responsible for 
the inspection of egg products under the Egg Products Inspection Act 
(EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.), the Food and Drug Administration 
handles the recalls of egg products under a Memorandum of Understanding 
with FSIS.
    A firm that has produced or imported meat or poultry product that 
is adulterated or misbranded and is being distributed in commerce, may 
voluntarily recall the product in question. When there is a recall, 
FSIS asks that the recalling firm provide the Agency with some basic 
information, including the identity of the recalled product, the reason 
for the recall, and information about the distributors and retail 
consignees to whom the product was actually shipped. Under the FMIA, 
firms are required to keep such records that fully and correctly 
disclose all transactions in their business (21 U.S.C. 642). Under the 
PPIA, firms are required to keep such records as are properly necessary 
for the effective enforcement of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)).
    When a firm voluntarily recalls a product, FSIS conducts recall

[[Page 44325]]

effectiveness checks. In conducting recall effectiveness checks, if the 
recall is to the retail or consumer level, the Agency contacts the 
distributors and actual retail consignees to ensure that they were 
notified of the recall, to verify the amount of product they received, 
and to confirm that they are removing the product from commerce and 
returning it to the recalling firm or otherwise disposing of the 
product. Sometimes, however, while it is possible to confirm that 
consignees were notified, and that they are removing product from 
commerce, it is not possible to ascertain how much product the 
consignee received. Therefore, FSIS is revising its Report of Recall 
Effectiveness form to provide a space to include, if necessary, along 
with other information on the form, an explanation of why the amount of 
product received by a retail consignee cannot be determined.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 
.97 hours to collect and submit this information to FSIS.
    Respondents: Official establishments, importers, and retail 
consignees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,060.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,980 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-5627, (202) 720-0345.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and, (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of 
information technology. Comments may be sent to both John O'Connell, 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at the address provided above, and 
the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20253.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the 
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2005_Notices_Index/index.asp.
    FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, 
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and 
farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, 
scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to 
be included. The update also is available on the FSIS web page. Through 
Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a 
much broader, more diverse audience.
    In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which 
provides an automatic and customized notification when popular pages 
are updated, including Federal Register publications and related 
documents. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/ and allows FSIS customers to sign up 
for subscription options across eight categories. Options range from 
recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. 
Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the 
option to password protect their account.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: July 28, 2005.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-15212 Filed 8-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P